The King of Pop adopted Bubbles not long after his 1983 birth at a biomedical lab in Texas.

As Michael Jackson biopic opens, here’s what happened to his pet chimpanzee Bubbles

The King of Pop adopted Bubbles not long after his 1983 birth at a biomedical lab in Texas.

By Kathleen Perricone

April 24, 2026 6:51 p.m. ET

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Bubbles and Michael Jackson in Japan in 1987. Credit:

Sankei Archive via Getty

- Michael Jackson's exotic pet collection included a chimpanzee named Bubbles who accompanied the superstar around the world.

- Bubbles in featured in the new *Michael* biopic, however, the primate is CGI-animated.

- Now 43, Bubbles has been living at a sanctuary in Florida since 2005.

At the height of Michael Jackson's career, his closest confidante was Bubbles, a pet chimpanzee who went everywhere with the King of Pop – the recording studio, on tour, even Hollywood parties where he posed for photos and moonwalked for celebrity guests.

The two friends dressed alike and even shared a bedroom at Neverland Ranch, where Bubbles slept in a crib.

Like his famous owner, the chimpanzee was also the subject of tabloid rumors.

Bubbles points to a photo of himself with Michael Jackson while in Tokyo in 1987.

Hulton Archive/Getty

In 1989, it was erroneously reported he had been fatally struck by a jeep at Neverland. A year later, another hoax claimed Bubbles died in a fire in Santa Barbara, prompting *USA Today* to run a story declaring: "Michael Jackson's pet chimp, Bubbles, is not dead."

As Elizabeth Taylor prepared to wed an eighth time in 1991, the buzz around town was that Bubbles would be her ring bearer (Jackson hosted the event at Neverland).

It was true, however, that Bubbles was Jackson's plus-one at the 1987 wedding of his lawyer John Branca. Dressed in a mini tux, "he has great table manners," reportedly remarked fellow guest Quincy Jones.

But as the young primate hit adolescence, he began exhibiting aggressive behavior. After nearly a decade with Jackson, Bubbles was packed up and sent to live in Sylmar, Calif., with animal trainer Bob Dunn, who had rescued him from a Texas biomedical lab soon after his 1983 birth.

Jackson continued to visit his former pet, said Dunn, sometimes bringing along his children.

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In 2005, after Dunn’s facility closed, Bubbles moved to his forever home, the Center for Great Apes in Wauchula, Fla.

Yes, Bubbles is not only still alive, the 43-year-old chimpanzee is enjoying retirement in Florida.

According to his profile on the center’s website, Bubbles is "a calm and artistic presence at the sanctuary" who enjoys painting. "He only hands over the canvas when he's truly finished, and his expressive style sometimes goes beyond the borders!"

Similar to Jackson, Bubbles is shy but playful. "He's been known for gently teasing visitors with a splash of water or a sprinkle of sand, just for fun," says the center. The 185-pound primate is "a respected leader" with lots of other chimpanzee friends, including Oopsie, Boma, Kodua, and Stryker.

But don't expect to see him make a cameo in the new *Michael* biopic starring the singer's nephew Jaafar Jackson. Although Bubbles is featured, along with Jackson's menagerie of exotic pets including Louie the llama and Crusher the python, no real-life animals were used in the making of the movie.

CGI-animated Bubbles in 'Michael' starring Jaafar Jackson.

"Bubbles is portrayed in the movie using CGI technology," Lionsgate announced in a statement via PETA (People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals).

"We have had continuing constructive dialogue with PETA about the portrayal of Bubbles the chimpanzee as a pet. This portrayal is simply based on historical fact and is not intended to be an endorsement of keeping chimpanzees as pets."

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